More than 70 percent of shipped goods bound for Alaska pass through the Port of Tacoma.
Twice a week ships leave Tacoma bound for Alaska, carrying everything from food and clothing, to Xboxes and construction materials.
With more than 70 percent of water-bound goods to Alaska crossing the Tacoma docks, the slowdown related to ongoing contract negotiations could have left stores across the 49th state bare.
But unlike international imports and exports, Horizon and Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE), the primary companies that ship to Alaska, have not missed a sailing.
Due to the negotiations, international container operations at West Coast ports have been reported as running at about half speed since Halloween, leaving containers of apples, potatoes and Christmas trees at risk of going bad, truck drivers out of work and goods destined for holiday shoppers stuck.
“You’ve got to be a few weeks ahead of everyone down in the Lower 48 in terms of ordering,” said Stephen Longnecker, store director for one of the Anchorage Fred Meyer locations. “Logistically there are challenges with shipping at times, but right now we are not seeing that.”
Because these businesses are not PMA members and are not loaded by ILWU members, they also have avoided the slowdown. “We’ve been getting our shipments on time, and sometimes early,” said John Ouderkerk, assistant store manager for Super Bear Supermarket in Juneau, which ships goods with Samson. “Our shelves are full,” he said.
See Full Story @ SeattleTimes.com
image credit totemocean.com
